3 Things You'll Definitely Regret Doing Over Spring Break

If you are reading this, then spring break is finally here. At my college, it represents the end of the quarter; for those on the semester system, it’s a good way to recharge the batteries for round two of their classes.

For those who are adjusting to the concept: spring break is usually a week long, where it goes to extremes: either party at the beach all day and night with the friends, or staying at home, not doing too much of anything. Either way, it can result in a spring break to forget, both for the wrong reasons.

And so to make spring break a little more memorable, here’s some things to cut out:

1. Sleeping past noon

First of all, for those who have jobs, this is immediately out of the question, unless you have a night shift.

Second, I understand that sleeping later is something in which should be cherished, especially with 8:30 am classes or jobs or a bad hangover. However, as I did so, it seemed like it threw a whack in my schedule: naturally, it made the nights longer to make up the difference.

On the other hand, it could be a figment of the school year: staying up late is a normal thing. If that’s the case, then sleeping early would be a great idea, unlike back in childhood.

2. Checking the phone all the time

In our day and age, it seems like it’s always necessary to see what’s going on, especially politically. On the other hand, it takes the mind away from actual happenings, especially with vacationing.

Yet the cell phone can be used to take a bunch of photos, if you decide to go away for break. In that case, don’t take too many embarrassing photos. Somebody might be tempted to post them on their favorite social media service and ruin your prospects after spring break.

If at home, checking things everyday just brings up the envy of friends who either have gone to a different hometown, or went on vacation to somewhere interesting. Again, taking photos of things around the house could kill time. I personally like flowers.

3. Doing the same thing every day

This is for those who are stranded in the same place everyday—like me!

Spring break brings a lot of time; with a lot of time can bring a bunch of opportunities to do things. Simultaneously, it provides more time to procrastinate, which then becomes a vacuum of videos and movies until Monday rolls around, and it all feels like a short dream.

Instead, do some planning about what to do. If you like creative projects, get writing or painting or composing a new song. If you have resumes and scholarships to do, then also make time for these things too.

But it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be spontaneous—have a dance party, learn how to cook, or call up some friends and have them come over. If you’re going back home, then go up back to your old high school and reconnect, but for only those who want to.

Basically, spring break is one big opportunity—a cliché, but in a twinkle of an eye it could be gone.

5 Perks Of Having A Long-Distance Best Friend

Sometimes, people get annoyed when girls refer to multiple people as their "best friend," but they don't understand. We have different types of best friends. There's the going out together best friend, the see each other everyday best friend and the constant, low maintenance best friend.

While I'm lucky enough to have two out of the three at the same school as me, my "low maintenance" best friend goes to college six hours from Baton Rouge.

This type of friend is special because no matter how long you go without talking or seeing each other, you're always insanely close. Even though I miss her daily, having a long-distance best friend has its perks. Here are just a few of them...

1. Getting to see each other is a special event.

Sometimes when you see someone all the time, you take that person and their friendship for granted. When you don't get to see one of your favorite people very often, the times when you're together are truly appreciated.

2. You always have someone to give unbiased advice.

This person knows you best, but they probably don't know the people you're telling them about, so they can give you better advice than anyone else.

3. You always have someone to text and FaceTime.

While there may be hundreds of miles between you, they're also just a phone call away. You know they'll always be there for you even when they can't physically be there.

4. You can plan fun trips to visit each other.

When you can visit each other, you get to meet the people you've heard so much about and experience all the places they love. You get to have your own college experience and, sometimes, theirs, too.

5. You know they will always be a part of your life.

If you can survive going to school in different states, you've both proven that your friendship will last forever. You both care enough to make time for the other in the midst of exams, social events, and homework.

Beautiful: Nine Letters, Infinite Meanings

While anxiously waiting for my show to turn back on during a commercial break, one commercial specifically caught my eye. It starting out with a blonde-haired woman, standing proud with a noticeable scar down her nose. As they flip to some clips of a diverse set of women, a power voice begins to speak. The first line immediately took hold of my attention.

"Beautiful, one word that holds the weight of thousands. We collect false promises, contorting ourselves to fit inside those letters"

The commercial captures a diverse set of women as they confidently exemplify their own beauty in a day to day setting. In doing so, they are encouraging individuals to redefine what beauty really is, in this case, through appearance. Macy's is sending the message to their buyers that their products provide individuals the opportunity to express themselves in whatever way they want with their new spring collection. By going beyond the boundaries that are socially installed our expectations are expanded.

As silly as it sounds, the Macy's advertisement made me think. It made me think of the concept of beauty, and how we perceive it.

Beauty to us is a social construct. You scroll through your feed of bronzed, tall and thin figures and you are fed to think that she is the one and only form of beauty worth striving for. You look in the mirror and pick out your flaws and imperfections thinking that it lessens your beauty. We are taught to believe that beautiful has one meaning and that definition cannot stray from the cover of a magazine.

But in reality, Beauty is fluid. It is what you want it to be. It is an appearance. It is a perception. It is imperfect.